Observations on the Feeding Ecology of Impala

Monro, R. H.

doi:10.1080/02541858.1980.11447695

Cited by 17 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The faeces data suggest impala have a diet of 53 % C 4 vegetation (grass), whereas the hair data suggest a diet of 63 % grass. These results are consistent with previous studies of impala in Kruger National Park and elsewhere (Van Zyl 1965;Hofmann & Stewart 1973;Monro 1980;Smithers 1983;Van Rooyen 1992;Meissner et al 1996;Vogel 1978;Wronski 2002). The faecal nitrogen contents of impala, buffalo, and kudu are also significantly different (P < 0.0001) ( Table 1).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

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Diets of impala from Kruger National Park: evidence from stable carbon isotopes

Sponheimer

Grant

Ruiter

et al. 2003

Koedoe

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Impala are known to exhibit dietary flexibility, relying primarily on browse in some areas and graze in others. In this study we use stable isotope analysis of faeces and hair to examine the diets of impala in Kruger National Park. As expected, the data show that impala are mixed-feeders and highly distinct from grazing buffalo and browsing kudu. Moreover, impala, buffalo, and kudu faeces contain 2.1 %, 1.4 %, and 2.9 % nitrogen respectively, suggesting that impala diets are of intermediate quality. There are also marked differences between impala populations in the northern and southern regions of the park. The northern impala graze less than their southern counterparts. This difference probably reflects decreased availability of herbaceous forage in the mopane-dominated north. Males and females also have different diets, with males grazing more than females.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…They can make large changes in the percentages of browse and graze consumed seasonally (Monro 1980;Dunham 1982;Smithers 1983;Meissner et al 1996;Wronski 2002). One study suggested that grasses make up 90 % of impala diets during the rainy season, but only 33 % during the dry season (Meissner et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diets of impala from Kruger National Park: evidence from stable carbon isotopes

Sponheimer

Grant

Ruiter

et al. 2003

Koedoe

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“…A plausible explanation could be their different foraging niche and ability to cope with food stress compared to the wildebeest. As typical mixed feeders, the diet of eland and impala in the dry season (winter and spring) is predominantly browse (impala: Dunham, 1980;Monro, 1980;Sponheimer et al, 2003;eland: Hofmann and Stewart, 1972;Watson and Owen-Smith, 2000). Unlike grass, the quality and quantity of browse is less dependent on rainfall and therefore the forage availability and nutrient content declines less drastically between the wet and dry season (Rutherford, 1984;Owen-Smith, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Body temperature variation of South African antelopes in two climatically contrasting environments

Shrestha

Wieren

Langevelde

et al. 2012

Journal of Thermal Biology

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“…Midgley & Musil (1990) recorded enhanced foliar nitrogen levels for plants growing on heuweltjie mounds in Cape Province, South Africa. Thus, the termitaria vegetation may provide forage with high nitrogen content attracting ungulate species, such as impala, that are known to prefer a high nitrogen content in their diets (Dunham, 1980;Monro, 1980;Bunnell & Gillingham, 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Termitaria are focal feeding sites for large ungulates in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

2005

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In constructing large vegetated mounds, Macrotermes termites play a key functional role in many African savanna systems. This study focuses on ungulate feeding on Macrotermes termitaria vegetation in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. With the exception of oribi Ourebia ourebi, all the species studied (i.e. impala Aepyceros melampus, Burchell's zebra Equus burchelli, Defassa waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus, topi Damaliscus lunatus, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus and warthog Phacochoerus africanus) grazed preferentially on mound areas compared to the adjacent savanna. Ruminant species grazed closer to termitaria than non-ruminants and female impala both browsed and grazed closer to mounds than males. No sexual difference in grazing distance to mounds was found for waterbuck.

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Observations on the Feeding Ecology of Impala

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Diets of impala from Kruger National Park: evidence from stable carbon isotopes

Diets of impala from Kruger National Park: evidence from stable carbon isotopes

Body temperature variation of South African antelopes in two climatically contrasting environments

Termitaria are focal feeding sites for large ungulates in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

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